Range apparatus



Jan. 9, 1968 E. G. P'ANKOW 3,362,693

RANGE APPARATUS Filed Oct. 21, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 9, 1968 E. e. PANKOW 3,362,693

RANGE APPARATUS Filed Oct. 21, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Q 3,362,693 RANGE APPARATUS Edmund G. Pankow, Mansfield, Ohio, assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Oct. 21, 1966, Ser. No. 588,349 9 Claims. (Cl. 259-138) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Agitator structure for mixing liquids or the like, such structure including a support which can be placed in a conventional vessel in which stirring is to be accomplished.

This invention relates, in general, to automatic stirring apparatus and, more particularly, to stirring apparatus utilizing magnetic coupling between the power source and the stirrer arms.

Automatic stirrers comprising a rotatable hub consisting of a permanent magnet and an integral agitator have, heretofore, been utilized for the purpose of mixing liquid as well as other substances. A magnet adapted to be rotated by a motor is supported beneath a nonmagnetic container or vessel in which the foregoing agitator is supported for rotation, through magnetic coupling of the magnetic hub with the magnet when rotated by the motor.

Heretofore, stirrers of the type mentioned above were so constructed that the base of the hub continuously contacted the bottom of the pot or vessel in which it was used; consequently the metallic components from which it was made had to be coated with a suitable material to prevent marring of the surface contacted thereby. However, use of even the best suited materials did not solve the problem. Moreover, wear of the coating material presented still another problem.

Accordingly, it is the general object of this invention to provide, in stirring apparatus, a new and improved agitator structure.

It is a more particular object of this invention to provide an agitator having new and improved means for supporting it in a vessel with which it is used.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent when considered in view of the following detailed description and drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 in an exploded perspective view representing the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view representing one mode of operation of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of apparatus incorporating the invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of interconnection means forming a part of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of the interconnecting means shown in FIG. 4, but in a different operating position; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line VI-VI of FIG. 4.

Referring now to the drawings, especially FIGS. 1 and 3, reference character 10 designates generally an agitator structure comprising a hub structure 11 and an arm structure or stirring means 12. As shown in FIG. 3, the agitator is freely or detachably supported within a vessel or container 13, made from any non-magnetic material, for example, aluminum, the vessel, in turn, being supported by a suitable electric heater comprising a plurality of coils 14.

A permanent magnet 16 secured to a shaft 17 of an electric motor 18 (shown schematically in FIG. 3) is adapted to be suitably supported subadjacent the vessel 13 directly below the hub member 11 which comprises a permanent magnet 20 (FIG. 6) shrouded by a suitable material, for example, nylon. The proximity of the two magnets provides a magnetic coupling therebetween serving to effect rotation of the hub member 11 with the magnet 16 when the latter is rotated by the motor 18.

The arm structure or stirring means 12, which is adapted to be rotated in the same or counterclockwise direction with the hub member 11 in a manner to be described hereinafter comprises a pair of arms 19 and 19 (best shown in FIG. 1), each having a substantially vertical leading member 21 and an oifset trailing member 22 joined by a horizontally disposed spiral member 23. Each of the offset members is provided with a vertical segment 24 and a horizontal segment 26, the latter being secured in a suitable manner, for example, by spot welding to an interconnecting member 27. Substantially, V- shaped handle means 28 including a grip member 29 joins the arms 19 and 19' at the vertical leading members 21, and, together with the interconnecting member 27, form an integral structure. The interconnecting member 27 is provided with an aperture 31 centrally thereof and an elongated slot 32 extending from one end thereof to the aperture 31.

A post or pivot member 33 is secured to a top surface 34 of the hub member 11 with its axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the hub, but at a point remote therefrom. The pivot member 33 comprises a tenon portion 36 adjacent its lower extremity and a head portion 37 adjacent the opposite extremity (see particularly FIGS. 1 and 6). A necked-down portion 38 of the pivot member 33 which is disposed intermediate the tenon and head portions is insertable through the slot 32 and into the aperture 31, into which the tenon 36 is subsequently insertable. A bifurcated spring member 39 is adapted to be positively secured to the interconnecting member by means of clip portions 35 and a flange portion 40 (best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6) at the opposite end such that bent leg portions 41 thereof engage the underside of the head 37 (FIG. 6) to provide a frictional coupling between the interconnecting member 27 and the pivot member 33. It will be appreciated that the arm structure 12 is thereby adapted to rotate counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 2, with the hub member 11 about its axis of rotation of the hub. It will further be appreciated that as the viscosity of the liquid which is heated in the process of being mixed, a resistance to rotation of the arm structure is developed thereby causing relative slippage between the bifurcated spring 39 and the pivot member 33. When this occurs the hub continues to rotate and due to the offset positioning of the pivot member 33, oscillatory motion toward and away from the center of rotation of the hub member 11, as shown in FIG. 2, is imparted to the arm structure 12. While the interconnecting member 27 and the spring 39 also oscillate, such an illustration has been omitted from FIG. 2 for sake of clarity. The path of movement of the arm 19 is from the solid line position shown in FIG. 2 to the first dotted line position indicated at A then to B and C and back to the solid line position.

Two extreme positions of the interconnecting member 27 and the spring 39 are depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5 with the former corresponding to the solid line position of the arm 19, as shown in FIG. 2, and the latter corresponding to the dotted line position indicated at B in FIG. 2.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the hub member 11 is provided with a plurality of fins 42 extending substantially radially from an annular wall 43 thereof.

As can further be seen from FIGS. 4 and 5, the fins 43, when the arms 19 and 19 move between the solid line position and the dotted line position =B, pass closer to one or the other of the offset trailing members 22. It will be understood that as the fins are rotated they create a turbulence in the liquid, the resulting force of which impinges on the vertical and horizontal segments 24 and 26, particularly the former, thereby tending to rotate the arms 19 and 19' indicated by the arrows shown in FIG. 2. Consequently, it is possible to have simultaneous rotation of the arms 19 and 19' and oscillatory movement thereof.

In accordance with the objects of the present invention, the hub structure 11 comprises (see FIG. 6) a metallic keeper plate 44 and the permanent magnet 20. The keeper plate and the magnet are bonded together by any suitable means, for example, by bolting or cementing, and then coated as a unit with any suitable material. The magnet 20 is provided with an opening 46 through the center thereof to permit assembly of a bearing structure 47 which depends from the keeper plate 44- and a bearing support or base plate 48.

To minimize friction due to rotation of the bearing structure 4-7 in a seat 49 in the support 48, the terminal portion of the bearing structure is provided with an inverted cone-shaped segment 51. The vertex 52 of the cone-shaped segment contacts the apex 53 of an inverted cone-shaped portion 54 of the seat 49.

The bearing support 48 has a flat base 56 adapted to rest on the bottom of a vessel and due to the minimal, i.e., point, contact between the bearing 47 and the support 48, the latter remains stationary in the vessel While the hub structure 11 rotates. The cone-shaped segment 51 is captivated within the seat 49 by continuous inwardly projecting flange S7. The flange 57 and at least the walls defining the flange and the seat 49 are made from any suitable resilient material, for example, nylon. The support can, therefore, be readily detached from the bearing for cleaning.

Since numerous changes may be made in the above described apparatus and different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. Agitator apparatus comprising: hub structure including means for coupling said hu-b structure to means for imparting rotational motion thereto, arm structure supported by said hub structure for rotation therewith, said hub structure further including bearing structure, a

support for said bearing structure, said support being adapted to be placed in a liquid-containing vessel and to suspend said hub structure such that said support remains stationary while said arm structure rotates and such that said hub structure is out of contact with said vessel.

2. Structure as specified in claim 1, wherein said co-u pling means comprises permanent magnet means.

3. Structure as specified in claim 1, wherein said bearing structure comprises an inverted cone-shaped segment the apex of which contacts said support.

4. Structure as specified in claim 1, wherein said hub structure comprises a keeper plate and a generally ci-rcular permanent magnet forming said coupling means and having a bore through the center thereof, said keeper plate being secured to one surface of said magnet to form the top of the hub structure, said bearing structure depending from said keeper plate and extending at least partially through said bore.

5. Structure as specified in claim 4, wherein said bearing structure comprises an inverted cone-shaped segment the apex of which contacts said support.

6. Structure as specified in claim 5, including means carried by said bearing structure and said bearing support cooperating to retain the latter to the former.

7. Structure as specified in claim 6, wherein said retention means comprises an inwardly projecting flange made from resilient material for permitting said support to be easily removed from said bearing structure.

8. Structure as specified in claim 5, wherein said support comprises a opening therein including a portion having a cone-shape in cross section, the base of which is larger than the base of the cone-shaped segment of the \bearing structure and the apex of said cone-shaped segment bears on the apex of walls defining said opening.

9. Structure as specified in claim 8, wherein said support comprises an inwardly projecting flange in said opening between the inlet thereof and said portion, said flange serving to captivate said heating structure within said opening whereby said bearing structure and said support form an integral assembly.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,958,517 11/1960 Harker et a1 2S9122 3,168,294 2/1965 Hasumura 259108 FOREIGN PATENTS 531,130 10/ 1954 Belgium.

0 WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT W. JENKINS, Examiner. 

